Thanks to their well-rounded play, the Indiana Pacers clobbered the Oklahoma City Thunder, 108-91, in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, forcing a championship-deciding Game 7. The do-or-die contest will mark just the 20th Game 7 in finals history and the first in nine years.
Ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated battle for the 2025 title, every previous Game 7 finals result is arranged from most to least recent.
List of Every Game 7 in NBA Finals History
- 2016 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors (Cavaliers win 4-3)
- 2013 NBA Finals: San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat (Heat win 4-3)
- 2010 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Lakers win 4-3)
- 2005 NBA Finals: Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs (Spurs win 4-3)
- 1994 NBA Finals: New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets (Rockets win 4-3)
- 1988 NBA Finals: Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Lakers win 4-3)
- 1984 NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics (Celtics win 4-3)
- 1978 NBA Finals: Washington Bullets vs. Seattle SuperSonics (Bullets win 4-3)
- 1974 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks (Celtics win 4-3)
- 1970 NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks (Knicks win 4-3)
- 1969 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Celtics win 4-3)
- 1966 NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics (Celtics win 4-3)
- 1962 NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics (Celtics win 4-3)
- 1960 NBA Finals: St. Louis Hawks vs. Boston Celtics (Celtics win 4-3)
- 1957 NBA Finals: St. Louis Hawks vs. Boston Celtics (Celtics win 4-3)
- 1955 NBA Finals: Fort Wayne Pistons vs. Syracuse Nationals (Nationals win 4-3)
- 1954 NBA Finals: Syracuse Nationals vs. Minneapolis Lakers (Lakers win 4-3)
- 1952 NBA Finals: New York Knicks vs. Minneapolis Lakers (Lakers win 4-3)
- 1951 NBA Finals: New York Knicks vs. Rochester Royals (Royals win 4-3)
Breaking Down NBA Finals Game 7s Since 2000
2016 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors (Cavaliers win 4-3)
The most recent Game 7 in a finals featured arguably the greatest series comeback in NBA history. The LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 series deficit against Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors, who finished the 2015-16 regular season with a league-record 73 wins.
James’ co-star Kyrie Irving drilled a step-back go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute en route to Cleveland’s 93-89 road upset. Meanwhile, James notched a triple-double with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.
2013 NBA Finals: San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat (Heat win 4-3)
Three years earlier, James thrived in another Game 7 finals matchup as a member of the Miami Heat against Tim Duncan’s San Antonio Spurs. After miraculously winning Game 6 in overtime following veteran sharpshooter Ray Allen’s game-tying triple with 5.2 seconds remaining in regulation, Miami prevailed, 95-88, at home in Game 7. James tallied a game-best 37 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 52.2% from the field as the Heat repeated as champions.
2010 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Lakers win 4-3)
The 2010 finals featured a clash between the two most storied franchises in NBA history, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. After a decisive Game 6 home win, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers grinded out an 83-79 Game 7 win at Staples Center over Boston’s Paul Pierce-led Big 3. Despite encountering shooting woes, Bryant posted a game-high 23 points and 15 rebounds in his fifth and final championship run.
2005 NBA Finals: Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs (Spurs win 4-3)
The 2005 finals between San Antonio and the Detroit Pistons were a low-scoring, defensive-oriented series that saw the Spurs pull out an 81-74 Game 7 home win. San Antonio dispatched the defending champions despite never reaching 100 points in all seven contests. In the title-deciding outing, Duncan led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds as he seized his third of five championships.
Overall, the last eight Game 7s in the finals have been decided by single digits, boding well for Indiana’s chances of hanging around and perhaps upsetting the 68-win Thunder on the road.
